IS CHRISTMAS the best time to buy a house? While the thought of moving house ahead of the festive season might be stress-inducing, it can actually be the perfect time.

Buying a new house might sound like the most stressful thing to do just before Christmas, but making the move can actually be a great time to snap up a new property. Many people are often keen to sell their home before Christmas so they can relax and fully enjoy the festivities before the New Year. And the fact everyone has a packed schedule at this time of year often means sellers are more keen to sell quickly, meaning they could be a tad more lenient when it comes to the price. Jonathan Stephens, MD of Surrenden Invest, told Express.co.uk why Christmas can be the best time to buy.

Related articles

Some sellers are keen to agree a sale before the Christmas break, so that they can relax and enjoy the holiday season fully with friends and family

Jonathan Stephens, MD of Surrenden Invest

He explained: “Christmas can be an excellent time to buy a home, for a number of reasons. Some sellers are keen to agree a sale before the Christmas break, so that they can relax and enjoy the holiday season fully with friends and family.

“The sheer busyness of the Christmas period means that some people are also keen to sell quickly, so that they can focus on less stressful and more festive matters.”

It’s especially a good time for first time buyers, or those without a chain.

Jonathan continued: “This means that first time buyers, or those who are cash rich or have no chain, are in a good position to negotiate. It’s a chance to put down a ’take it or leave it’ offer.

“While such an offer might not be accepted, there’s a chance that it could be, thus saving the buyer some money.”

This time of the year also tends to mean there’s less competition with other buyers.

Moving house can be exciting as well as stressful (Image: GETTY)

“Christmas is also a good time for people to buy investment properties,” Jonathan added. “November and December tend to be slower months for property investment companies, as many would-be investors are distracted by the holiday season, so postpone their property purchases until the New Year.

“However, this means greater capacity for companies to serve those investors who do want to buy at this time of year. It also means less competition for properties, so savvy buyers can pick up something particularly special (Ancoats Gardens in Manchester is a prime example).”

And for the few who are lucky enough to be browsing property abroad for a holiday home, Christmas can also be a good time to look overseas.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey Espana said: “When it comes to buying an overseas property in sunny locations such as Spain, Christmas is a good time to buy.

“With fewer tourists around than in the summer months, those purchasing homes can enjoy more attention from local agents. There are also weather-related benefits, with house-hunting trips in the sunshine opening up the possibility of playing golf, eating lunch al fresco and even spending time on the beach.”

Related articles

Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis recently shared his top tips on the best time of year to buy property and whether Brexit means people should be wary of moving house next year.

Martin Lewis was asked during a Facebook Live chat: “If you wanted to move house next year, would you put it off a year and wait because of the Brexit uncertainty?”

The Money Saving Expert told fans that he would not change his plans based on external factors like Brexit.

Explaining, Martin said: “After March we will have more certainly with what’s happening with Brexit or that Brexit isn’t happening, or isn’t happening in the way it is planned to happen. It wouldn’t mean putting it off.”

Martin told his fans that he would not focus on Brexit and the property market at large.

Instead, he suggested that Britons focus on their own financial situation.

“The truth is I tend to believe that these sort of externalities, when you try to play the market most people get it wrong so the best thing to do is look at your own circumstances,” Martin said.